A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 137 Surprised
On September 26, the ninth year of Chongzhen, Shunxiang Fort, in the Qianhu official hall.

The weather was already quite cool, and everyone inside and outside Shun Township Fort had put on thick winter clothes. At this time, there were bursts of laughter in the lobby.

"Come on, baby boy, give me a kiss."

Wang Dou carried his son Wang Zheng back and forth in the hall, teasing him a few times, but his son Wang Zheng just kept giggling in his arms.Beside Wang Dou, Wang Dou's mother Zhong Shi, uncle Zhong Xiancai, and wife Xie Xiuniang all watched with smiles.

Xie Xiuniang's eyes follow the figures of her husband and son from time to time, her face is full of happy smiles, and it also contains the brilliance of motherhood.

At the beginning of August, Xie Xiuniang gave birth to a son for Wang Dou. The process was safe and sound, and the mother and child were safe.

But at that time, both Wang Dou and his mother Zhong Shi were in a cold sweat.Xie Xiuniang is small and thin, and childbirth is not easy. Many midwives said that with his wife's body, she might be in danger of dystocia. Wang Dou also considered this. As a result, under the blessing of the merciful and compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva, Xie Xiuniang finally gave birth to a fat son after a painful struggle.

Wang Dou racked his brains to name his son Wang Zheng.

After the Lord came back, the whole castle was overjoyed. For a while, the entire Shun Township Castle was submerged in the sound of crackling firecrackers. When Wang Dou bought the full moon wine for his son, there were even more guests.

Wang Dou is now a big celebrity, and after news of Shun Xiangbao's military achievements spread, it caused a commotion, and incredible voices were everywhere.Everyone spread the news that Wang Dou's great contribution made it inevitable that he would be promoted to an official position. Many people are still rumoring that Wang Dou is very likely to be promoted to the integrity officer of the state city, and by then he will be the head of the state of Baoan state. Lord.

The 24-year-old integrity officer inevitably aroused the envy and jealousy of many people, but the jealousy is jealousy. Taking advantage of Wang Dou's opportunity to invite the full moon wine, there is still an endless stream of people who come to make friends with congratulations. Zhang Gui, the officer in charge of the garrison, also came here with a smile on his face, Shi Min, the defense officer of Zhangjiabao, also came to make friends, and Yang Zhichang, the defense officer of Wubao, also came reluctantly.

Speaking of Yang Zhichang, Wang Dou also had an episode with him. At the beginning of August, Yang Zhichang sent people to ask Wang Dou for population. They took some civilians from military households abducted. Except for those who died, Wang Dou exchanged the corpses of Qing soldiers for the rest, and became the population of military households in Shunxiangbao.

Yang Zhichang sent out people outrightly, but unexpectedly, these people were beaten out without even seeing Wang Dou's face.Yang Zhichang didn't dare to touch Wang Dou, so he appealed to Xu Zucheng, the prefectural integrity officer, but there was no further action. Yang Zhichang hated him very much, but he was helpless.He heard from many sources that Wang Dou was likely to become his immediate boss. After several nights of insomnia, Yang Zhichang finally decided to take the initiative to show his favor to Wang Dou.

The two of them chatted very happily at the banquet, and there was no trace of their past festivities.

In addition, all the dignitaries in Zhoucheng and Weicheng sent congratulatory gifts one after another. To Wang Dou's surprise, Li Shouqin, the son of the garrison, came in person and sent a heavy gift. Wang Dou's friend, security guard Zhou Confucianism is well-known, and he also recognized Wang Dou's son Wang Zheng as his adopted son on the spot, which made the warriors present envious.

The bustling scene in front of the Thousand Households Government Hall did not subside a little until mid-September. The victory report and the list of military merits had already been handed in, and all parties were breathing heavily, waiting for the result to come.Wang Dou happened to be quieter, spending time with his wife and children at home.

Holding his son Wang Zheng in his arms, Wang Dou looked at him more and more and fell in love with him. He saw how much his son looked like him, with his eyebrows, eyes, hair...everywhere.Holding his son, Wang Dou felt like he was connected by flesh and blood. This is the crystallization of himself in this era, the essence of hundreds of years. With a son, Wang Dou can truly integrate into this era.

Wang Dou kissed his son on the face. Wang Zheng was giggling all the time, but when Wang Dou kissed him, his mouth cracked and he burst into tears. Wang Dou was quite embarrassed and said, "Baby son, why are you crying?" ?”

Zhong has experience, she said: "I'm afraid I'm hungry, it's time to feed him."

Xie Xiuniang came over with a smile and said, "Husband, let me have a fight."

Xie Xiuniang took her son away, and a guard came in to report that it was Mr. Lin Daofu who was begging to see him.

……

Lin Daofu walked in vigorously. This tall general was full of energy. Shun Xiangbao has made great achievements this time. With the rewards from above, a large number of people should be promoted.Everyone in Shunxiangbao also heard the rumor that Wang Dou might be promoted to the prefectural integrity officer, which made Lin Daofu very excited. If Wang Dou was transferred, he should be able to be promoted to the defense officer after so many years in Shunxiangbao, right?

Driven by this concept, his enthusiasm for work is even higher. He is busy every day, reclaiming wasteland inside and outside the fort, building irrigation wells, distributing rations, etc. He has to take care of many things. Hei had lost a lot of weight, but Lin Daofu was very energetic, and his eyes became brighter and brighter.

He came in to report to Wang Dou about the internal and external affairs of the fort. From August, Shunxiang Fort began to build barracks for the new military households to live in, as well as autumn plowing, reclaiming wasteland, etc. A series of things must be urgent spread out.

According to Lin Daofu, in the past two months, the results have been satisfactory. The minds of the more than 5000 people captured from the Qing soldiers have settled down, and the bright future of Shunxiang Castle has attracted them.Along the northwest sides of Shunxiang Fort, rows of barracks have been built, so that the new military households have an ideal shelter before the cold winter.

Thanks to the efforts of the large population, a lot of wasteland in Shunxiang Fort has been reclaimed, and many irrigation wells have been dug, but...

Lin Daofu said: "My lord, in the past two months, the food, rice and silver in the castle have been consumed a lot."

After chasing down the Qing soldiers, Wang Dou had more than 3000 shi of grain and rice in stock, more than 500 cattle, more than 1000 pigs and sheep, more than 500 mules and horses, more than 300 taels of gold, and more than 7000 taels of silver. Fifteen hundred shi of rice and grain were transferred from Acropolis and Zhoucheng.

Wealth seems to be quite a lot, but now Shunxiangbao has a population of more than 1 people, which is equivalent to the population of two full thousand households. With so many people wanting to eat and drink, Wang Dou is under great pressure. Since seven years, the nearly [-] mu of new land reclaimed in Jingbian Fort can collect taxes and grain, but it is still a drop in the bucket. Most of the soldiers and civilians in the fort depend on Wang Dou's support.

Outsiders see Wang Dou as leisurely, but in fact they don't understand the distress of being a family member.

In order to be self-sufficient as soon as possible, and Wang Dou estimated that there would not be any major wars in Baoanzhou Guard for a few years, so the five-sentry sergeant of Shunxiang Fort, except for one sentry, and the fort will not be closed at night to continue to defend the city. , the remaining four sentinels went to work in the fields. From now on, the five sentinels would take turns to guard the city, and every two months it would be a turn for the sentinels. Except for the slack season or when there was a war, the five sentries would gather together.
Of course, Wang Dou knew about Lin Daofu's question. He paced the hall with his hands behind his back and said to him, "Your Majesty Lin, don't worry about this matter. I will naturally find a way to solve it. Everything in the castle needs to be resolved." Please work hard, Mr. Lin."

Lin Daofu said: "Your Excellency is serious, this is the job of the subordinates, so there is no need to worry about it."

This hard-working old scalper went there happily. Sure enough, as long as Wang Dou is around, he can work hard by himself, and he doesn't need to worry about the most worrying things.

After Lin Daofu left, Wang Dou walked around the hall a few more times, and finally stopped to drink tea and meditate.

While he was thinking, another guard reported to Han Chao to see him.

Han Chao hurried in, and as soon as he saw Wang Dou, he said, "My lord, hurry up and get ready."

Wang Dou asked strangely, "Brother Han, why are you in such a hurry, what preparations are you making?"

Han Chaodao: "Master Xu sent a family member to report urgently, saying that the new governor, Lord Lu, has come to Shun Township Castle, and let him prepare to welcome him."

"Lord Lu...Lu Xiangsheng?"

Wang Dou jumped up in surprise.

……

In front of the south gate of Shunxiang Fort, led by Wang Dou, officials and generals of Shunxiang Fort stood all over the place, Lin Daofu, Zhenfu Chi Dacheng, Han Chao, Han Zhong, Wen Fangliang, Sun Sanjie, Zhong Tiaoyang, Ling Li Feng Dachang When all the people are in place, at this time the right guard of the Han Dynasty is guarding the city. Han Zhong, Wen Fangliang, Sun Sanjie, and Zhong Tiaoyang are all working in the fields. All of them came quickly.

Everyone was short of breath, and their faces were flushed with excitement. Among them, many of them had only seen the ethics officer, and had rarely even seen the guard.Everyone calculates that in terms of conduct, it is garrison, and in garrison it is guerrilla warfare. In guerrilla warfare, it is a general, and in general it is a deputy commander. The governor, the governor up, is the governor of the three towns.Everyone is breathing in, governor, what a big official this is.

It's really unexpected that a high-ranking official from the Governor's Three Towns would come to Shunxiang Fort.

The news of the arrival of the new governor Lu Xiangsheng is really shocking.

Wang Dou was also nervous, not to mention that Lu Xiangsheng was a high-ranking official like the governor of the three towns, and he was also a celebrity in history. Come.

Behind Wang Dou and Lin Daofu, the official Feng Dachang was carefully arranging his appearance. He had three long beards, clothes and hair trimmed and trimmed again, thinking that he wanted to leave a good impression on the coming Lu Xiangsheng.Seeing Feng Dachang's appearance, Uncle Wang Dou hurriedly checked his appearance carefully, and he muttered to himself, not knowing what he was talking about.

Lin Daofu completely lost the appearance of a calm middle-aged general. He nervously said to Wang Dou: "My lord, our preparations are sufficient this time. Is there anything wrong?"

He anxiously said: "The time is too tight, the pergola ceremonial drummer who received the official was completely unprepared, it is really rude."

Seeing everyone's nervousness, Wang Dou couldn't help laughing: "My lords, don't worry too much. When Governor Lu comes, everyone will welcome you calmly."

Hearing what Wang Dou said, everyone's tense nerves relaxed a little.

Thinking of Wang Douding in front, everyone felt a little relieved.

(End of this chapter)